’ Downs must ‘ Basop’ chopping, changing coaches
MB A B A N E – I s D e n v e r S u n - d o wns’s p o o r r u n t h i s s e a - son due to the chopping and changing of coaches?
Surely the log standings speak volumes for a team of Denver Sundowns’ calibre. A team that has not only a rich history but is one of the highly respected in the Kingdom of Eswatini, having represented the country in the CAF Confederation Cup and also won prestigious competitions in the holy grail of Eswatini soccer. How the mighty have fallen as Sundowns were once dominant in the 90s winning the BP Challenge Cup three times. They won it in 1989, 1991 and 1992. They also came close to defending it in 1993 but lost 2- 1 to Eleven Men in Flight.
They also came close to winning the prestigious EswatiniBank Cup in 2004, where they lost 5- 1 to Green Mamba. They were finalists in this very cup in 2007, where they lost 1- 0 to Royal Leopard. Fast forward to this day, the Sundowns of Manzini is fighting for relegation. In fact, they are outside the top eight bracket with four games to go and just four points clear of relegation. They have only managed six wins, six draws and 14 defeats in 26 games. They are among the top five teams which have conceded more goals than they have scored. They have conceded 35 goals and scored only 17.
WITHOUT WINNING
At some point in time, to be precise, they went 12 games without winning a single game. This was between May 5 to July 11. They had last won a game on Workers Day, where they beat Tambankulu Callies 21 in the first round. It was until recently ( July 21) when they returned to their winning ways at the expense of struggling Malanti Chiefs whom they beat 3- 1. Seemingly, things are turning for the better as yesterday they recorded another win beating Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows 3- 2 under head coach Artwell Dludlu, who is their fifth coach this season alone.
When the season started, they seemed unstoppable after beating Mhlume Peacemakers 5- 0 on December 17, 2020. That was when Zimbabwean mentor Terisayi Changara was in charge. However, after losing a streak of four games, Changara was shown the exit door for South African Solomon Luvhengo. Before Luvhengo joined the ‘ Kappa Boys’, Bongani Mhlongo also had a short stint but ended up jumping the ship. However, he had to leave the Sundowns camp after it was reported that he did not qualify to coach in Eswatini. This was in early May. Former Ludzeludze Killers coach Thembelani Dlamini had to keep the fires burning but he also did not last. Another South African mentor was brought in by
D. Sundowns
D. Sundowns
Tambuti
Denver
Mb. Swallows
M. Wanderers
Denver
Denver
Tambankulu
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Milling Hotspurs
M. Highlanders
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Young Buffaloes
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Tinyosi
M. Sea Birds
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Royal Leopards
Malanti Chiefs
Moneni Pirates
Black Swallows
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Denver 3 – 2 Black Swallows 3 – 1 Malanti Chiefs 0 – 0 Denver Sundowns 0 – 1 Young Buffaloes 1 – 0 Denver 2 – 0 Denver 1 – 1 Manzini Sea Birds 1 – 2 Tinyosi 2 – 1 Denver 0 – 2 Royal Leopards 1 – 0 Denver 1 – 0 Denver 1 – 1 Tambuti 1 – 0 Denver 0 – 2 Mbabane Swallows 2 – 1 Tambankulu 0 – 1 Denver 2 – 1 Denver 0 – 1 Green Mamba 1 – 2
Milling Hotspurs 2 – 0 Denver 1 – 2 Denver 0 – 0 Denver 2 – 2 Denver 5 – 0 Mhlume 2 – 2 Manzini Wanderers
the name of Manuel Moiane. He also did not last after he did not help save the sinking ship. Dludlu came in and despite inconsistency Sundowns kept him. However, it has seen been said by sources that Dludlu could be on his way out too as former Mbabane Highlanders assistant coach Siyabonga Bhembe has joined the yellow nation as a physical trainer and assistant coach. Sources at Sundowns camp have confided that he will take over from Dludlu. This has caused discomfort in the camp and has seen physical trainer and also assistant coach Tinavo Mushavi stopping rendering his services after the arrival of Bhembe. The team’s CEO, Elvis Dube, admitted that somehow the changing of coaches had a negative impact on the current state of affairs.
“Things started falling apart late in May after Solomon Luvhengo left the team due to that he was not qualified to coach in Eswatini. We had high hopes that he would change things for the better at Sundowns. The other reason we did not have a good season is that we did not have a proper pre- season training,” Dube said.